18 replies to this topic

[Altzi]

What is the purpose of this bolt and washers? /Rick

[Altzi]

There was supposed to be a picture

[Altzi]

Heres a link to the pic https://www.dropbox....G_8074.jpg?dl=0

[chris_uk]

Its the centre bolt through the hub from an s1 elise

Edited by chris_uk, 19 May 2018 - 01:28 PM.

[Altzi]

Its on my vx220, do they need to be there? They just seem to fill the hole where the drive shaft should have been?

[Spitfire Engineering]

Yes.

The pressed flange is not that tight as when it is forged it cannot be pressed over further as there components behind it.

Normally it is not a problem as you add a driveshaft which keeps it under tension, when this is missing they tend to distort under load and wear prematurely.

[chris_uk]

Its on my vx220, do they need to be there? They just seem to fill the hole where the drive shaft should have been?

 

i dont think ive ever seen them on a VX, or S2's, the only time i have seen them in on S1's but the way the bearings are pushed in are totally different. The VX and S2 is a hub/bearing combination unit unlike the S1.

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

Are you talking about this one

[Altzi]

Yes the bolt in he middle, i thought i was related to the ABS but its not, and the bearing is in one piece so its not to hold it together?

[Altzi]

Looks like mine https://www.facebook...ickaltziracing/

[Spitfire Engineering]

Yes the bolt in he middle, i thought i was related to the ABS but its not, and the bearing is in one piece so its not to hold it together?

 

No, it just supports it.

[kipper]

Are you talking about this one

Fitted to mine as well !

[zimmer]

Mine has definitely never had those....

[chris_uk]

On the vx and s2 the bolt does nothing apart from keep the inside splines in good condition. The two faces which the bolt clamps to is just one solid machined piece, so as far as i can see all you are doing is just adding unspring weight by having them on.

[Spitfire Engineering]

On the vx and s2 the bolt does nothing apart from keep the inside splines in good condition. The two faces which the bolt clamps to is just one solid machined piece, so as far as i can see all you are doing is just adding unspring weight by having them on.

 

Yes it is one piece but is is not machined into that form.

The inside flange is rolled over but then contacts the bearing components so it cannot be pre-loaded to any degree.

 

Normally this is not a problem as the hub is designed to work with a CV (hence the splines) and this also adds compression by contact with both flanges and gives a large, hard spine to the unit. But without this the hubs do tend to distort more and this can lead to premature failure.

It's hard to give empirical data as no two cars are the same nor the forces on each side of the car but there seems to be enough raw evidence that a % of extra life can be acheived if the unit is supported in this way.

 

It doesn't have to be heavy we did a lightweight version about 10 years ago with 7075 components and an M14 12.9 bolt

 

[chris_uk]

I think that pic I posted earlier was one of yours. Its interesting because the FAG bearings i have, look like they are machined from one piece.. you certainly cant tell there is any join or rolling over etc. I will try get a pic tomorrow.

Edited by chris_uk, 21 May 2018 - 06:27 PM.

[Altzi]

My bearings also looks like they are made from one piece, so do it need them or not

[Arno]

My bearings also looks like they are made from one piece, so do it need them or not

 

'Need'? No. It will work without the bolt fitted. Many VX/Speedsters came without them.

 

Does it improve the lifespan of the (front) bearings (esp. when tracked) as explained by Gaz: yes

 

Also it allows the use of no-name chinese cheapie wheel bearing units that are using tapered roller bearings unlike the OEM double row ball bearing types which DO need to be clamped together to not fall apart. Although that's probably a bit of a left-field reason

 

Bye, Arno.

[Altzi]

So on my road car that I use to go buy ice cream on sunny days Ill keep them, on the track car Ill leave them out (for weight reason)